The Tzu Chi Foundation is an international humanitarian organization whose mission is to relieve the suffering of those in need while creating a better world for all through compassion, love and hope.
Tzu Chi, the world’s largest Buddhist humanitarian organization, was founded in Taiwan by Buddhist nun Dharma Master Cheng Yen in 1966. It has over 10 million volunteers working in more than 60 countries, with relief operations extended to over 120 countries. The Foundation is operated by a worldwide network of volunteers and employees and has been awarded a special consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC).
Tzu Chi Foundation has been in the Philippines for 27 years, working in disaster-stricken areas and transforming lives through its various programs in disaster relief and rehabilitation, education, medicine, and environmental protection.
In Mandarin Chinese, “慈 (tzu)” means compassion, and “濟 (chi)” relief.
The Tzu Chi Foundation’s logo is comprised of a lotus flower and sailing ship. The lotus flower symbolizes enlightenment, with the sailing ship carrying all living beings across the sea of suffering to peace and safety.